Professional Association

A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) is usually a nonprofit organization seeking to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession and the public interest.

The roles of these professional associations have been variously defined: “A group of people in a learned occupation who are entrusted with maintaining control or oversight of the legitimate practice of the occupation;” also a body acting “to safeguard the public interest;” organizations which “represent the interest of the professional practitioners,” and so “act to maintain their own privileged and powerful position as a controlling body.”

Many professional bodies are involved in the development and monitoring of professional educational programs, and the updating of skills, and thus perform professional certification to indicate that a person possesses qualifications in the subject area. Sometimes membership of a professional body is synonymous with certification, though not always. Membership of a professional body, as a legal requirement, can in some professions form the primary formal basis for gaining entry to and setting up practice within the profession; see licensure.

Many professional bodies also act as learned societies for the academic disciplines underlying their professions.

As a practical matter, most professional organizations of global scope (see List of professional organizations) are located in the United States. The U.S. has often led the transformation of various occupations into professions, a process described in the academic literature as professionalization.

Legal functions

In countries where the law entitles defendants to a jury of their peers, the general public may not be considered sufficiently knowledgeable in a field of practice to act as a peer in some legal cases. For example, the professional associations do not always concern themselves with licensure or the equivalent or government regulations. In the United States, journalists seek to avoid government involvement in their work or “official” definitions.

Inter-professional associations

Inter-professional associations have been defined as private organizations, recognized by the State, that group together participants from all stages of the same agricultural commodity chain (filière in French), with the objectives of elaborating policies, guaranteeing equity among the members, facilitating the improvement of the performance of the chain and defending the interests of the members. There are around sixty such associations in France and several in Francophone countries of Africa. A particular feature of inter-professional associations is that the membership is made up of associations that represent the individual chain professions. This is in contrast, for example, to commodity associations in the United States where membership is largely of individuals and companies. Many developing countries have few or no associations that cover an entire commodity chain and there would appear scope for the development of such organizations to promote improved liaison with governments.

Business organization

In the United States, PA (Professional Association), used in conjunction with a business name is a corporation formed by professionals such as barristers, engineers, dentists, and medical doctors. In the past, the so-called “learned professions” were not allowed to operate as corporations. A PA is attractive to professionals because it provides some of the tax advantages and liability protections of a business corporation.

Trade association

A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry. An industry trade association participates in public relations activities such as advertising, education, political donations, lobbying and publishing, but its focus is collaboration between companies. Associations may offer other services, such as producing conferences, networking or charitable events or offering classes or educational materials. Many associations are non-profit organizations governed by bylaws and directed by officers who are also members.

In countries with a social market economy, the role of trade associations is often taken by employers’ organizations, which also take a role in social dialogue.

Political influence

One of the primary purposes of trade groups, particularly in the United States and to a similar but lesser extent elsewhere, is to attempt to influence public policy in a direction favorable to the group’s members. It can take the form of contributions to the campaigns of political candidates and parties through Political Action Committees (PACs); contributions to “issue” campaigns not tied to a candidate or party; and lobbying legislators to support or oppose particular legislation. In addition, trade groups attempt to influence the activities of regulatory bodies.

In the United States, direct contributions by PACs to candidates are required to be disclosed to the Federal Election Commission or state and local election overseers, are considered public information, and have registration requirements for lobbyists. Even so, it can sometimes be difficult to trace the funding for issue and non-electoral campaigns.

Publishing

Almost all trade associations are heavily involved in publishing activities in print and online. The main media published by trade associations are as follows:

Association website. The association’s corporate website typically explains the association’s aims and objectives, promotes the association’s products and services, explains the benefits of membership to prospective members, and promotes members’ businesses (for example, by means of an online listing of members and description of their businesses).

Members newsletters or magazines. Whether produced in print or online, association newsletters and magazines contain news about the activities of the association, industry news and editorial features on topical issues. Some are exclusively distributed to members, while others are used to lobby lawmakers and regulators, and some are used to promote members’ businesses to potential new customers.

Printed membership directories and yearbooks. Larger trade associations publish membership directories and yearbooks to promote their association to opinion formers, lawmakers, regulators and other stakeholders. Such publications also help to promote members’ businesses both to each other and to a wider audience. A typical membership directory contains profiles of each association member, a products and services guide, advertising from members, and editorial articles about the aims, objectives and activities of the association. The emphasis of association yearbooks on the other hand is on editorial features about the association itself and the association’s industry.

The opportunity to be promoted in such media (whether by editorial or advertising) is often an important reason why companies join a trade association in the first place.

Examples of larger trade associations that publish a comprehensive range of media include European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

Generic advertising

Industry trade groups sometimes produce advertisements, just as normal corporations do. However, whereas typical advertisements are for a specific corporate product, such as a specific brand of cheese or toilet paper, industry trade groups advertisements generally are targeted to promote the views of an entire industry.

Ads to improve industry image

These ads mention only the industry’s products as a whole, painting them in a positive light in order to have the public form positive associations with that industry and its products. For example, in the USA the advertising campaign “Beef. It’s what’s for dinner” is used by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to promote a positive image of beef in the public consciousness.

Ads to shape opinion on a specific issue

These are adverts targeted at specific issues. For example, in the USA in the early 2000s the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) began running advertisements before films that advocate against movie piracy over the Internet.

Controversy

A common criticism of trade associations is that, while they are not per se “profit-making” organizations that claim to do valuable work which is ultimately for the public benefit, they are in reality fronts for price-fixing cartels and other subtle anti-competitive activities that are not in the public interest.

Anti-competitive activity

Jon Leibowitz, commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission in the United States, outlined the potentially anti-competitive nature of some trade association activity in a speech to the American Bar Association in Washington, D.C. in March 2005 called “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Trade Associations and Antitrust”. For instance, he said, under the guise of “standard setting” trade associations representing the established players in an industry can set rules that make it harder for new companies to enter a market.

Cartels

In September 2007, the German trade association for Fachverband Verbindungs- und Befestigungstechnik (VBT) and five fastener companies were fined 328 million Euros by the European Commission for operating cartels in the markets for fasteners and attaching machines in Europe and worldwide. In one of the cartels, the YKK Group, Coats plc, the Prym group, the Scovill group, A. Raymond, Berning & Söhne agreed coordinated price increases in annual price rounds with respect to fasteners and their attaching machines, “in the framework of work circles organised by VBT”.

National and international associations

International

CINOA, International Confederation of Art and Antique Dealers’ Associations, principal international art and antique dealers confederation

eCommerce World Retailers

Federation of International Trade Associations

Industry Technology Facilitator, an oil industry trade association

International Air Transport Association

International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)

International Chamber of Shipping, principal trade association of the international shipping industry

International Fluid Power Society

International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)

Africa

Hospitality Association of Namibia

Canada

Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers

Canadian Beverage Association

Canadian Federation of Independent Business

Canadian Meat Council

Canadian Nuclear Association

Canadian Recording Industry Association

East Asia

Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association

Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association

Europe

Centre for European Policy Studies

Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU

EFPIA

EUBINGO

EUCOPE

EUROMAT

European Tool Association (CEO)

European Chemical Industry Council

European Policy Centre

Petcore

PLASA

UEAPME

Union of Industrial and Employers’ Confederations of Europe

EBAN

India

A

Aeronautical Society of India

All India Management Association

All India Ophthalmic Society (AIOS)

All India Biotech Association

Author Guild of India

C

CFA Council of India

Computer Society of India

CPA Council of India

CII, Confederation of Indian Industry

D

Delhi Ophthalmic Society (DOS)

E

Engineering Council of India

Engineering Staff College of India

Editor Guild of India

F

Federation of Indian Photography

I

ICTACEM

Indian Concrete Institute

Indian History Congress

Indian Institute of Architects

Indian Institute of Banking and Finance

Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers

Indian Institute of Metals

Indian Institution of Industrial Engineering

Indian Society for Technical Education

Indian Sociological Society

Institute of Actuaries of India

Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

Institute of Company Secretaries of India

Institute of Cost Accountants of India

Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers

Institution of Engineers (India)

Institution of Valuers

Indian Tea Association

P

Phycological Society of India

Professional Social Workers’ Association

Public Relations Consultants Association of India

Press Club of India

Public Relations Society of India (PRSI)

N

Naroda Industries Association, Ahmedabad, India

NASSCOM, National Association of Software and Services Companies

R

Rotary Wing Society of India

S

Society of EMC Engineers (India)

Society of Indian Law Firms

U

United Nurses Association

W

Western India Regional Council

United Kingdom

In the UK there are thought to be more than 1600 trade associations.[3] The term “industry trade group” is used very little in British English. Alternative terms used in the UK include trade association and employer association.

United States of America (USA)

There are over 7,600 national trade associations in the United States, with a large number (approximately 2,000) headquartered in the Washington, DC area.[4] There are also many trade associations at the state and local levels.

One of the oldest trade associations in the United States is the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), founded in 1883.

Copyright trade groups

IFPI, International Federation of Phonogram and Videogram Producers, represents the recording industry worldwide, with over 1450 members in 75 countries and affiliated industry associations in 48 countries. The IFPI works in partnership with similar national organizations.

Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) represents the recording industry in the United States.

Music Canada, formerly known as the Canadian Recording Industry Association is the non-profit trade organization representing the largest Canadian companies that create, manufacture and market sound recordings.

Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ), non-profit trade association of producers and artists in New Zealand.

Mexican Association of Producers of Phonograms and Videograms (AMPROFON)

Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) represents the film industry in the United States.

The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA), a group consisting of small to medium-sized intellectual property companies